Wed. Morning Links: Returning to Baseball, Scully, Blockbuster Trades, and More

The offseason sucks, but at least it's not as bad as that Super Bowl game on Sunday, eh?

• After being one of the better players in the NBA over the past decade and a half, Tracy McGrady is looking at starting a new career at the ripe old age of 35: Baseball pitcher. McGrady has already signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League, an independent team that has recently employed former major leaguers Roger Clemens, Scott Elarton, and Jason Lane. McGrady used to play baseball in high school, and his transition would not be a first for a former NBA player. Only 12 players have played in both the NBA and MLB, with lefthanded pitcher / basketball center Mark Hendrickson being the most recent, having played 4 years in the NBA and 10 in MLB.
• McGrady isn't the only non-baseball athlete looking to give baseball another shot. After being selected in the Rule 5 Draft by the Texas Rangers, Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson will definitely be appearing at spring training in a couple weeks. Whether he actually plays is another story, however...
• Vin Scully is the best broadcaster in baseball (arguably in sports period as well) but in his current state, only calls Dodger home games and a few road games on the West Coast. However, he will be joining the team in late March in Australia when they kick off the 2014 season against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• While definitely unpopular, it is possible for a team to trade away a superstar and actually succeed in the near future. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs revisits the trade that sent Ken Griffey, Jr. from Seattle to Cincinnati and determines that despite the opinions at the time of the trade, the Mariners actually came out on top from dealing away The Kid.
• Finally, this is how you make a billboard. Well done, Royals.